Officers ride 1,000 miles, stop in Wilmington

Dozens of law enforcement officers who are biking 1,000 miles in honor of officers who lost their lives on the job, stopped in Wilmington on Sunday.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Dozens of law enforcement officers who are biking 1,000 miles in honor of officers who lost their lives on the job, stopped in Wilmington on Sunday. The Wilmington Police Department held a brief ceremony when they arrived and served the cyclists dinner.

The bike riders started in Florida and plan to end up in Washington, DC for National Police Week, from May 12 to 18.

Two members of the Wilmington Police Department have made the ride an annual tradition. Lieutenant George Perkins and Sergeant Curt Stansbury. Officers say regardless of what Law Enforcement Agency you work for, you are still a family and it's important to honor those that are no longer here.

"When we get tired, when the headwinds are in our face and slowing us down and we are thrown some rain, you think about those who died in the line of duty and their sacrifice and their courage during that last end of watch call," explained Rich Gallo, who is from Brooklyn, NY and participating in the ride. "When you think of them you draw on that strength to go that extra mile."